😐A single person spends $1,073 per month in Grand Bois vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,757 per month in Grand Bois vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,442 per month in Grand Bois vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Grand Bois costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Grand Bois and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Grand Bois20% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.78MUR 319
$1.98฿64.3
242.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.64MUR 2,102
$18.80฿612
137.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23MUR 341
$7.75฿252
-6.71%
Cappuccino
$2.67MUR 126
$1.92฿62.5
39.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MUR 45.61
$0.79฿25.79
22.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56MUR 26.18
$0.36฿11.62
55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.18MUR 103
$2.21฿72.1
-1.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39MUR 160
$3.66฿119
-7.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MUR 77.7
$1.65฿53.8
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.66MUR 30.88
$1.63฿53.2
-59.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29MUR 60.6
$1.19฿38.86
8.40%
Eggs
$2.26MUR 106
$2.00฿65.1
13.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.06MUR 568
$15.98฿520
-24.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06MUR 285
$3.03฿98.5
100.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.69MUR 597
$10.86฿354
16.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01MUR 94.4
$2.76฿90.0
-27.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00MUR 94.0
$1.18฿38.42
69.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49MUR 70.3
$1.64฿53.5
-9.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71MUR 128
$1.52฿49.51
78.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98MUR 46.30
$1.38฿45.10
-28.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02MUR 47.81
$1.19฿38.84
-14.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86MUR 40.49
$0.70฿22.86
22.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75MUR 35.41
$0.56฿18.13
33.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65MUR 313
$4.58฿149
45.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.31MUR 391
$16.56฿539
-49.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75MUR 82.3
$1.83฿59.5
-4.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17MUR 102
$3.20฿104
-32.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99MUR 46.76
$0.88฿28.56
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.47MUR 210
$1.36฿44.16
228.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.65MUR 125
$1.34฿43.65
97.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.00MUR 942
$7.84฿256
155.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41MUR 66.4
$1.23฿39.92
14.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KMUR 1.7M
$21.6K฿704.3K
66.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KMUR 1.4M
$22.5K฿734.3K
29.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.84MUR 2,300
$70.5฿2,298
-30.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.33MUR 863
$13.68฿445
33.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.91MUR 1,597
$17.45฿568
94.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.87MUR 1,783
$41.33฿1,346
-8.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.90MUR 278
$5.77฿188
2.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154MUR 7,229
$307฿10.0K
-50.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,976MUR 187.2K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-72.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.8MUR 4,088
$55.8฿1,817
55.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.0MUR 3,767
$26.21฿854
205.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132MUR 6,197
$85.8฿2,793
53.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4MUR 4,540
$72.2฿2,353
33.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513MUR 24.2K
$430฿14.0K
19.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347MUR 16.3K
$239฿7,774
45.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MUR 44.7K
$817฿26.6K
16.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$713MUR 33.6K
$511฿16.6K
39.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
5
33.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grand Bois: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $513 in Grand Bois versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Grand Bois versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Grand Bois vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Grand Bois wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Grand Bois vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Grand Bois or Chiang Mai?
Grand Bois costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Grand Bois vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,609 per month in Grand Bois and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Grand Bois or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Grand Bois vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Grand Bois and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Grand Bois or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Grand Bois – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Grand Bois or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Grand Bois at $1,073. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Grand Bois it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Grand Bois or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,073 in Grand Bois. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Grand Bois compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Grand Bois or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Grand Bois makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Grand Bois vs other spots: cost of living compared